Statement of Objects and
Reasons appended to the Constitution
(Fifty-third Amendment) Bill, 1984 (Bill No. 81 of 1984) which was
enacted as THE CONSTITUTION (Fifty-first Amendment) Act, 1984

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly passed a
resolution on 31st March,
1980 urging the Government of India to provide for reservation
of
seats for Scheduled Tribes in the State Legislative Assembly and also
in the House of the People on the pattern obtaining in other States in
the country. The State Government, therefore, recommended amendment
of articles 330 and 332 of the Constitution. The
Governments of
Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram have also
supported the
amendment in respect of their respective areas. It is,
therefore,
proposed to amend article 330 of the Constitution to provide
for
reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha for
Scheduled Tribes in
Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram and article 332 to
provide for similar reservation in the Legislative
Assemblies of
Nagaland and Meghalaya. The amendments have been proposed to meet the
aspirations of the local tribal population.

2. This Bill seeks to achieve the above object.

NEW DELHI;
P. V. NARASIMHA RAO.

The 22nd August, 1984.

THE CONSTITUTION
(FIFTY-FIRST AMENDMENT) ACT,
1984

[29th April, 1985.]

An Act further to amend the Constitution of India.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-fifth
Year of the Republic
of India as follows:-

1. Short title and
commencement.-(1) This Act may be called the
Constitution (Fifty-first Amendment) Act, 1984.

(2) It shall come into
force on such date_670 as the Central
Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

2. Amendment of article 330.-(1) In
article 330 of the Constitution,
in clause (1), for sub-clause (b), the following sub-clause shall be
substituted, namely:-

"(b) the Scheduled Tribes
except the Scheduled Tribes in the
autonomous districts of Assam; and".

(2) The amendment made to
article 330 of the Constitution by
sub-section (1) shall not affect any representation in the House of
the People until the dissolution of the House of the People existing
at the commencement of this Act.

3. Amendment of article
332.-(1) In article 332 of the Con-
stitution, in clause (1), for the words "except the Scheduled Tribes
in the tribal areas of Assam, in Nagaland and in Meghalaya", the words
"except the Scheduled Tribes in the autonomous districts of
Assam"
shall be substituted.

(2) The amendment made to
article 332 of the Constitution by
sub-section (1) shall not affect any representation in the Legislative
Assembly of the State of Nagaland or the Legislative Assembly of the
State of Meghalaya until the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly
of the State of Nagaland or the Legislative Assembly of the State of
Meghalaya existing at the commencement of this Act.